FDA Agent Says Peanut Plant 'Not Fit' To Produce Food

ALBANY, Ga. (AP) -- A federal food safety inspector who investigated a deadly salmonella outbreak linked to a Georgia peanut plant says the company was "not fit to produce products for human consumption."

Janet Gray of the Food and Drug Administration testified Wednesday in the federal trial of three people charged with covering up contamination at the Peanut Corp. of America plant, and knowingly shipping infected nuts to customers.

The outbreak 15 years ago killed nine people and sickened more than 700 around the U.S.

Gray described company records for the jury that showed at least eight times when nuts were shipped after testing positive for salmonella. And she said equipment at the plant wasn't cleaned even after the salmonella showed up.